Frankfurter broiler



April 17, 1956 s. H. NlLssoN ETAL 2,741,977

FANKFURTER BROILER Filed March 10, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l u NFS "I"IIIHII ff" C IN V EN TORS. STUE H` NIL .SSON

EDWARD PV. SWANSON. BY ARTHUR E DE/TES.

April 17, 1956 s. H. NlLssoN ETAL 2,741,977

FRANKFURTER BROILER Filed March l0, 1953 2 Sheets5hee1. 2

INVENTORS src/RE H. N/LssoN. EDWARD n/.SWANSOM BY ARTHUR F. DE/TERS.

a" 5 .griffig-1g. A

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent lice 2,741,977 Patented Apr, 17, 1956 FRANKFURTERRorLER Sture H. Nilsson, West Islip, Edward W. Swanson, Brooklyn andArthur F. Deiters, Brightwaters, N. Y., as-

signors to Stu-Art, Inc., Westhampton` Beach, N. Y., a

corporation of N ew York Application Marchy 10, 1953,4 SerialNo. 341,424

3 Claims. (Cl. 99358) `which is illustrated in the drawings, and whichlwill' be described'hereinafter in greater detail, comprises generally, abase having drainage means permitting the cooking juices toV run o-if,electrodes on the base for piercing a frankfurter, a housing on the basesurrounding the electrodes, and a hand operable clamp for releasabl'yhol-ding a frankfurterj impaling the same on the electrodes andlremoving the hot frankfurter therefrom.-

According to the present invention, an improved construction andcombination of base and housing is contemplated, wherein the cookingjuices will drain oi exteriorly of. the housing, and wherein the housingis removable from the base to permit thorough cleaning and readyaccessibility for adjustments and repairs..

Another contemplated improvement` of' the present invention resides inthe novel construction ofthe above mentioned frankfurter clamp `forresiliently holding a frankfurter, which clamp serves to close thehousing when inserted therein, and which is provided with guide meansfor proper positioning in the housing.

These and other improvements and advantages of the lpresent inventionwill become apparent' upon reading the yfollowing specication andreferring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part ofthis disclosure.

' The invention accordingly consists in the` features of construction,combinations of elements, and: arrangements of part-s,` which willbeexemplifiedl in the' construction hereinafter described, and of which'the-scope will be indicated bythe appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan' view of a fratrkfin-terl broiler `constructedV inaccordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 isarear end View of the device Vshown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3f is a side elevational view of the devicev shown in'Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the broiler base with the housing andfrankfurter clamps removed.

Fig. 5' is a sectionalrview taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6t isv a top plan View of the base and housing of the presentinvention, with the frankiurter` clamps removed.

Fig; 7 is a sectional view'taken along the line- 7 7 of Fig. 6. Y

Fig. Si` is a side elevational view of thefrankfurter clamp constructedin accordancey with the present invention.. v

Fig. 9. is'a top planview of the clamp: shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an end elevational view of the frankfurter clamp inclosed'position.

Fig. 1l is an end elevational view of the frankfurter clamp inopenposition.

Fig. 12 is a partial sectional view taken on the line 12- 12 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on the line 13-13l of Fig. 9.

Fig. 14 is4 a side elevational view of an element of the frankfurterclamp removed therefrom.

Fig. 15 is a sectional. View taken on the line 15-15 of Fig. 4.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings,4 the embodiment of theinvention illustrated therein comprises a base generally designated 20adapted to rest upon a horizontal supporting surface (not shown), ahousing on the base and generally designated 21, and frankfurter clampsremovably disposed within the housing and generally designated 22.

The base 2t) includes iront and rear walls 23 and 24, respectively,yside walls 25 and 26 interconnecting the front and rear walls, and a topWall 27 interconnecting the front, rear and side walls. The base 20 ispreferably cored interiorly, as at 23 for lightness and economy. Therear wall 24 is provided with a recess 29 intermediate the side walls 25and 26, which recess terminates ,in an end wall 30 depending from `thelower surface 31 of the top wall 27 and having its lower end 32 spacedabove the lower end of rear Wall 24, thus forming an opening below wall3i? communicating with the cored interior 28 of `the base 2i). The uppersurface of the base top wall 27 is inclined fromthe front wall 23 to therear wall 24 and provided with an elongated well. or depression. 33 fora purpose appearing hereinafter. The base top walll 27 is further formedwith a pair of through openings 34 and 35 intermediate the end walls andadjacent to and spaced inwardly from the side walls 25 and 26,respectively. Intermediate the openings 34 and 35, the top Wall` 27 isformed with apair of longitudinally extending parallel spaced pads orlands 36, which number may be more/or less as desired, said pair beingshown for purposes of illustration and clarity. While it is preferred tofabricate the. base 2!) of plastic material, it is appreciated thatother materials having the requisite properties may be used.

Embedded in and extending upwardly from each of the` lands 36 adjacentopposite ends thereof are electrodes 37, which are T-shaped in crosssection and which depend below the base top wall 27 as at 38, and arethere formed with apertures 39. The upper ends 40y of the electrodes 37are beveled or otherwise sharpened for a purpose appearing hereinafter.intermediate the electrodes 37 and embedded in the land 36 is anl-shapecl electrode 41 having its lower end 42 depending from the basetop wall 27 and formedv with an aperture 43 (not shown). The I-shapedelectrode 41 is also beveled or otherwise sharpened at its upper end 44.Spaced below the base top wall 27 is a plate 45V terminating at the wall30. intermediate and `extending outwardly through the wall 30 and theend 46 of plate 45 are a pair of spaced prongs or electrical contacts 47which may be xedly secured to the base` by any suitable means (notshown). An electrical circuit formed by wires 47a connects one prong 47to the electro-des 37 and the other prong to the electrode 41, the wiresbeing inserted through the apertures 39 and 43, respectively, andsecured therein. It will now be understood that when' a source ofelectric power (not shown) is connected across the prongs 47, a circuitwill be formed which is open across the electrodes.

They housing 21 is superposed upon the top wall 27 of base 20 andsurrounds the lands 36 and electrodes 37 and 41. The housing 21comprises opstanding front animar and rear walls 5t) and 51,respectively, and parallel spaced side walls 52 interconnecting thefront and rear walls. Above each of the lands 36, the housing top Awall53 is cut away to form a substantially rectangular opening 54, each ofsaid openings having front and rear edges 55 and 56, respectively, andfacing side edges 57, 5'?. Adjacent the front edge 55 of each of theopenings 5d and spaced below the upper surface of top wall 53 are a pairof inwardly extending shoulders 5S, 53 which are spaced apart as at 59to form a groove therebetween. Similarly, adjacent the rear edge 56 ofeach of the openings 54 and spaced below the upper surface of housingtop wall 53 are a pair of inwardly extending shoulders 60 and 61 whichare spaced apart to form a vertical groove 62. The side wall 52 ofhousing 21 is provided with a depending lug or extension 63 whichextends through the opening 34, and an ouoturned foot 6d is formed onthe lower end of lug 63 and engages the undersurface of top wall 27.Formed on the other housing side wall 52 is a depending lug or extension65 which is insertable through and beyond the opening 35 in the base topwall 27. ln order to mount the housing 21 on the base 29,*it is onlynecessary to insert the foot 64 and lug 63 into the opening 35i, andthen insert the lug 65 in the opening 35. The housing walls arepreferably somewhat resilient so that the lug 65 will frictionallyengage within the opening 35, the side walls 52 being movable slightlytoward each other for etlecting the withdrawal ot lug 65 from theopening .35. The housing is preferably fabricated of plastic material,but may bc fabricated ot other material having the desired resiliencyand other requisite qualities.

Each of tie franlit'ut'tcr clamps 22 comprises n pair of complementaryhollow sections 71 and 72 arranged in facing spaced relation withrespect to each other and shaped to conformably receive therebetween afrankfurter 73 shown in dotted outline. Each of the sections 71 and 72includes transversely bowed longitudinally extending side walls 74 and75, respectively, and curved end walls '76 and 77 adjacent opposite endsof the side walls. rthe lower ends ot the complementary side walls 74and 75 are spaced apart to form an opening 7S therebetween. Extendingupwardly from the side walls 74 and 7.5 are portions 79 and titl,respectively, which are formed with inwardly opening longitudinallyextending grooves 81 and 82, and beveled surfaces S3 and 84, all for apurpose appearing hereinafter. Projecting outwardly from each ot' theportions 79 and S0 is a substantially rectangular ange 55 and $6,respectively, said anges being formed with opstanding plates or handles87 and Sli, respectively. Extending through the portions 79 and 8d andin registry with each other are a pair of apertures 89 and 90. A similarpair of registering apertures extends through the portions 79 and Si! asat 91 spaced from the apertures fr? (see `Fig. 8').

interposed between the portions 79 and Su is a plate 95 havinglongitudinally extending beads or ribs 96 and 97 on opposite faces,which beads engage within the grooves 8l and 8?., respectively. he plate95 is formed adjacent its opposite ends with transversely extendingportions 93 and 99 which are interposed between the end walls 76, 76 and77, 77, respectively. The plate 95 is further provided with a pair ofspaced apertures 1d@ and lul in registry with apertures Sit), and 91,92, respectively. ending through beyond the istering apertures S9, di)and .'itltl is a tbsiaped leaf spring 102 having its end portions curvedoutwardly at 103 and 104i. and in abutting engagement with the outersurface of side walls 74 and 75, respectively. Similarly, a U-shapedleaf spring 195 exten-:ls through and beyond the registering apertures9i, 92 and lGl and has its end portions 5&6 and itl? bearing against theouter surfaces of side walls 74 and 75. lt will be noted that the beads96 and 97 are adapted for rotative engagement within the grooves S1 and32, or conversely, the

portions 79 and 80 are adapted for rotative engagement with the beads 96and 97, rotation being limited by the angular disposition of beveledsurfaces S3 and S4. Thus, the complementary sections may be swingablymoved from a closed position, as seen. in Fig. l0 to an open position,as seen in Fig. ll, by actuation of the handles 87 and 88 toward eachother. lt is seen that the springs 102 and 105 will resiliently urge thecomplementary sections 71 and 72 into closed relation with respect toeach other.

ln operation, the handles 87 and S8 may be grasped and squeezed togetherto thereby increase the opening 78, through which a frankfurter may beinserted intermediate the complementary sections 71 and 72. Onpermitting the handles 87 and 88 to separate, under the iniiuence ofleaf springs 102 and 1&5, the frankfurter will be retained between theside walls 74 and 75 and end walls 76, 76 and 77, 77. The clamp 22 maynow be inserted into one of the openings 54 formed in the top wall 53 ofthe housing 2l., being guided therein by the engagement of theextensions 98 and 99 in the grooves 59 and 62, respectively. On furtherinsertion of the clamp, and the frankfurter retained therein, into thchousing 21, the frankfurter will be impair-:d upon the electrodes 37 and41 to pro-vide an electrical resistance therebetween, and the anges S5and S6 will seat upon the shoulders 58 and 61, and serve to close theopening 54.

It will now be seen that a completely enclosed frankfurter broiler isprovided, wherein the cooking juices will run off the lands 36 and flowinto the well 33, it being noted that the front housing wall 50 has itslower end spaced above the well.

Upon completion of the broiling operation, the frankfurters may beremoved by grasping the handles 87 and 8S and withdrawing the clamp fromthe housing without squeezing the handles together. The containedfrankfurther may then be dispensed to a roll or plate, as desired, bymerely squeezing the handles 87 and 88 to increase the opening 7Sbetween the side walls 74 and 75 of the complementary sections 71 and72.

In view of the foregoing, it is seen that a frankfurter broiler isprovided which accomplishes its intended objects, and which is welladapted to meet conditions of practical use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by wayof illustration and example, for purposes of clarity of understanding,it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be madewithin the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

l. As an article of manufacture for use with a frankfurter broilerhaving a housing formed with an opening through its top with a guidechannel extending inwardly from each end of said opening, and havingelectrodes in said housing extending substantially vertically below saidopening, said article comprising a clamp for releasably holding afrankfurter, and being insertable through the opening in the housing forimpaling a frankfurter on said electrodes, said clamp comprising a pairof complementary hollow sections adapted to receive therebetween afrankfurter, means connecting said sections for swinging opening andclosing movement with respect to each other, cover means on said clampfor closing said opening when said clamp is inserted through saidopening and comprising a flange on each of said sections shaped to beconformably received in said opening for closing the same, guide meanscomprising a plate interposed between the sections and extendinglongitudinally therebeyond, said longitudinal extensions being slidablyreceivable in said guide channels for properly positioning said clampwithin the housing, resilient means urging said sections into closedrelation with respect to each other to enclose the frankfurter, and handgrasp means on said clamp for effecting the holding and releasing actionof said clamp.

2. A clamp according to claim 1, wherein the confronting faces of saidsections are provided with inwardly opening longitudinally extendinggrooves, and said plate which is interposed between the sections haslongitudinal beads on opposite faces thereof, which beads engage withinsaid grooves respectively, whereby the sections are connected forswinging opening and closing movement with respect to each other.

3. A clamp according to claim 2 wherein said resilient means comprises aleaf spring extending transversely through and beyond said sections andhaving its opposite ends each bearing against one of said sections.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 641,273Coon Jan. 16, 1900 6 Urso Mar. 30, Zaun Oct. 20, Cookson Aug. 4, BlierNov. 24, Smith July 9, Graham Apr. 7, McCormack May 5, Brogden et alSept. 1, Watson June 3, Breneman Jan. 6, Stainbrook Mar. 14, Steriss May2, Hobbs July 4,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain A. D. Italy Jluy 5, Great Britain Sept.29,

